Nothing Finite Fills an Infinite Thirst

ਬਿੰਜਨ ਭੋਜਨ ਅਨਿਕ ਪਰਕਾਰ ॥

binjan bhojan anik parkaar.

With foods and delicacies of so many different kinds,

ਰੰਗ ਤਮਾਸੇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥

rang tamaasay bahut bisthaar.

and such abundant pleasures and entertainments,

ਰਾਜ ਮਿਲਖ ਅਰੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਫੁਰਮਾਇਸਿ ॥

raaj milakh ar bahut furmaa-is.

power and property and absolute command

ਮਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਧ੍ਰਾਪੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਨ ਜਾਇਸਿ ॥

man nahee Dharaapai tarisnaa na jaa-is.

- with these, the mind is not satisfied, and its thirst is not quenched.

ਬਿਨੁ ਮਿਲਬੇ ਇਹੁ ਦਿਨੁ ਨ ਬਿਹਾਵੈ ॥

bin milbay ih din na bihaavai.

Without meeting Him, this day does not pass.

ਮਿਲੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤਾ ਸਭ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥

milai parabhoo taa sabh sukh paavai. ||3||

Meeting God, I find peace. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Every kind of rich food and delicacy, abundant fun and entertainment, power and property and total command —

none of it satisfies the mind or quenches its thirst.

Without meeting Him, the day will not pass. Meeting the One, I find peace.

Nothing finite can fill an infinite thirst — only meeting the One quenches it.

The deeper layer

The final catalogue — food, entertainment, power, property, command — names the very things people spend their lives chasing, and declares them unable to "quench the thirst." The thirst is structural: nothing finite fills an infinite longing. "Without meeting Him, this day does not pass" — only the One brings the peace all the rest promised and failed to give (cf. Shabad 38).

A Question to Sit With

Why do you think no amount of "more" ever feels like quite enough?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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